Gifts from the Heart

With only a few days left until Christmas, you might be like a lot of people, rushing from store to Internet site in-between the Christmas parties, family get-togethers, school programs, decorating, extra cooking, cleaning and baking, writing of Christmas cards – you know how it can be!

Whether this describes you or not, here’s an idea that will not only reduce some of the Christmas frenzy, but gets back to the true spirit of giving. It’s called gifts from the heart. Very simply, giving a gift from the heart means giving of yourself to another. Depending on the individual, this could mean giving your time or a skill as the gift. These presents are as unique as the giver, the possibilities are limitless, and you can give them at other times of the year, too.

Here are some ideas to get you started. You could commit to taking someone out for a cup of coffee, for lunch, to a movie or a symphony. If it’s an elderly person, you could rake their leaves, shovel their snow, or take their dog on a walk. You could take them on a walk! The frequency is up to you, as is the packaging. You could list these in a card, or print out the activities on slips of paper tucked into a fancy box. These could be invaluable to a person who lives alone, especially an elderly person, a family member you’ve drifted away from, or someone who is grieving.

Of course, giving a gift dependent on your skills will look different than someone else’s. If you’re handy with tools, you could change out an electrical switch. Do you play an instrument? Then you might give a private concert. You could make a pair of earrings, frame a picture, paint a picture, cook a special dinner. Teaching your talent to someone else could be another form of giving your skill away.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of the heart is a letter to a loved one. In that letter you could ask forgiveness for a wrong you have done. Maybe you’d like to express your thanks for their influence in your life, or maybe you’d include a list of the qualities that you appreciate so much about them.

When you decide to give a gift from the heart, be prepared to open a surprise for yourself, because hidden in your giving will be the beauty of renewed or deepened relationships, a new kind of connection that can’t be bought from a store.